Rebecca Hill, the court clerk for Colleton County, South Carolina, will be the subject of a three-day hearing starting on January 29 to determine whether convicted double murderer Alex Murdaugh deserves a new trial.
Murdaugh is currently serving two consecutive life sentences for the murder of his wife, Maggie, and son Paul. His lawyers argue that Hill tampered with the jury during the six-week trial, leading them to believe that Murdaugh was guilty. Hill has denied any wrongdoing.
According to a pre-trial brief filed by Murdaugh's attorneys, they do not need to prove that Hill influenced the jury. They argue that if Murdaugh can demonstrate that Hill communicated with the jury about the defense's evidence, he should be granted a new trial, regardless of whether the outcome would have been the same without Hill's interference. State prosecutors, on the other hand, claim that the defense must prove both jury tampering and bias on the part of at least one juror.
One aspect that may come up during the hearing is the removal of a juror known as the "Egg Lady Juror." This juror, who was believed to be a holdout against convicting Murdaugh, was dismissed just hours before deliberations began. Hill is implicated in this incident due to an alleged incriminating Facebook post by the juror, which Hill claims to have seen but has been unable to prove. The case against Hill has been strengthened by a recent data drop of 2,100 of her work emails, which suggest that she showed favoritism towards certain reporters and used her position to promote her book.
Hill has been facing two ethics complaints, including one related to her work on her book during office hours. Her son, Jeffrey Hill, who was the head of IT for Colleton County, was also arrested for allegedly illegally wiretapping conversations on the job. Additionally, it was discovered that Hill plagiarized parts of her memoir about the Murdaugh trial, titled "Behind the Doors of Justice," leading to the book being pulled from publication.
The upcoming hearing will be overseen by Jean H. Toal, an 80-year-old former Chief Justice of South Carolina. However, the hearing may also address the media and legal circus surrounding the Murdaugh case. Since the sensational and brutal murders of Maggie Murdaugh and her son Paul in June 2021, a cottage industry of lawyers, bloggers, journalists, and podcasters has emerged, capitalizing on the scandal through books, TV appearances, and merchandise.
One prominent figure in this industry is Eric Bland, a Columbia-based attorney who represents four Murdaugh trial jurors, the sons of Gloria Satterfield (the Murdaugh housekeeper who died under mysterious circumstances), and Sandy Smith, the mother of Stephen Smith, a young gay man found dead near the Murdaughs' home in 2015. Bland has been criticized for seeking publicity and wanting to be involved in the upcoming hearings. In response, Bland stated that he and his partner live "rent-free" in the head of Murdaugh attorney Dick Harpootlian, and criticized Harpootlian for his own media-seeking behavior.
Bland is also involved in two podcasts, "True Sunlight" and "Cup of Justice," which charge a monthly fee for premium membership. He has appeared regularly on TV since representing the Satterfields. Bland's media profile has grown to the point where he sells merchandise and offers personalized videos on Cameo. His representation of Sandy Smith has involved overseeing a GoFundMe campaign to fund the exhumation of Stephen's body and an independent autopsy. The GoFundMe raised over $130,000 before being shut down, and a scholarship fund was established in its place.
The online circus surrounding the Murdaugh case has been a persistent issue, with social media and podcasts allowing anyone to become an "expert" on the matter. Dick Harpootlian, Murdaugh's longtime lawyer, expressed his astonishment at the extent of the online frenzy. He noted that these platforms often lack qualifications and contribute to the distorted narrative surrounding the case.
As the hearing approaches, the focus will be on determining whether Rebecca Hill tampered with the jury and whether her actions warrant a new trial for Alex Murdaugh. The outcome of the hearing will have significant implications for the Murdaugh case and the broader legal landscape in South Carolina.
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